Slow Cooker Whole Grain Breakfast Porridge Food

WHOLE-GRAIN BREAKFAST PORRIDGE

Steps:

• Up to 12 hours before serving, put the rice, oats, barley and farina in a 6-to-10-cup rice cooker. Stir in the orange peel, cinnamon stick, sugar, salt and 5 cups water. Add the dried fruit.
• Close the cooker, set the timer and program for the porridge cycle so that breakfast is ready at the desired time. (If you don't have a porridge setting on your rice cooker, program for 50 to 55 minutes.
• Serve the warm porridge with nuts, syrup and/or milk, if desired.

SLOW-COOKED PORRIDGE

Steps:

• Heat the slow cooker if necessary. Find a sturdy ceramic bowl that will fit in the cooker. Put the oats in the bowl along with a pinch of salt, then pour over the milk, or a mixture of milk and water. Add the dried fruit, if using. Place the bowl in the slow cooker and put on its lowest setting and cook overnight for 7-8 hours. If anyone's up in the night, give the porridge a quick stir to scrape up the crustier bits from around the edges and bottom, but don't worry if not.
• In the morning, give the porridge a really good stir - it may have developed a crust on top, but just stir this in to break it up. Add a drop more milk to loosen if necessary, then ladle into bowls and add your favourite toppings.